Early
Morning Bus Accident on Madison Street

The
Chicago bus crash occurred early on the morning of Sunday, May 7, 2017 on
Chicago's west side in the Garfield Park neighborhood. A #20 Madison Street CTA
bus was traveling east on Madison with passengers aboard when it was hit by a
Buick LeSabre that was traveling west.

According
to police, the Buick, which was driven by 27-year-old Bernard Chatman and had
three passengers inside, was speeding at the time of the accident and hit a
parked car before losing control and hitting the oncoming CTA bus head-on.

The
Chicago Police Department’s major-incident unit responded to the incident, as
well as the Chicago Fire Department.

Photos
from the scene show the Buick crumpled and burnt almost beyond recognition.
Inside, witnesses say the occupants were pinned while the car began to catch
fire.

It
would be several hours before normal bus service on the #20 route would resume.

Driver
and Three Passengers Pronounced Dead in Chicago Bus Crash

Once
emergency personnel arrived at the accident scene, they were able to extricate
the driver and three passengers from the Buick.

Chatman,
who had been driving the vehicle, and 23-year-old Erica Williams, a passenger,
were taken to Stroger Hospital, where both were pronounced dead from their
injuries, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner's
office.

Twenty-five-year
old Ashley Moore and 22-year-old Tycika Fairley, who were also passengers in
the Buick, were both taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were also
pronounced dead.

According
to a family member who identified them, Fairley and Moore were sisters, and
both were parents. Fairley had two children and Moore had three, but, the
family member says, Fairley was pregnant at the time of the crash. Chatman also
had a daughter.

Five
Injured on CTA Bus

The
damage to the CTA bus was much less than that of the Buick, but the impact from
the head-on collision was still severe enough to send the bus driver and three
passengers aboard the bus to area hospitals for treatment.

Police
say two people from the bus were taken to Rush University Medical Center and
Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center and were listed in serious
condition. Two more from the bus were taken to St. Mary's, but were listed in
good condition. It is believed that a fifth passenger was treated at the scene.

None
of the injuries sustained by people on the bus are thought to be
life-threatening.

Witnesses
Tried to Pull Victims from Vehicle

At
the site of the bus crash, some witnesses worked to aid victims while others
captured images and video that were then posted to social media.

Witnesses
who live nearby heard the crash and hurried to the scene, where others were
already doing what they could to free the occupants of the Buick.

"I
heard the tire skid and then I heard the impact," Jbria
Demery said in an interview with ABC7. "When I came outside, I just
saw a bunch of the neighborhood people trying to open up the doors of the car
but they couldn’t get them open. The driver of the car was partially hanging
out the window."

Another
witness, Malinda Demery, said that fire inside the car impeded rescue efforts.

"My
neighbor went over and tried to pull the driver out, but the car was burning so
bad and there was so much smoke he had to stop trying and then the fire
department came and did what they did," Malinda Demery said, also speaking
with ABC7.

Malinda
Demery then turned her attention to those aboard the bus.

"The
bus driver got off the bus and was fine," Demery said to NBC Chicago.
"She was shaken up, but she was able to walk and talk."

Bernard
Crowder, another witness to the Chicago bus crash, recalled the panic of trying
to rescue those pinned inside the Buick.

Investigation
into Chicago Bus Crash Ongoing

For
now, the Chicago Police's Major Accidents Investigation Unit continues to
investigate the accident with help from the CTA, which is also reviewing
surveillance from on board the bus.

When
making an initial statement on the Chicago bus crash, police said the Buick was
traveling at a "high rate of speed," and that will likely be listed
as a factor in the crash. Officials are also investigating the role that
alcohol played, as alcohol was found inside the vehicle. It is unknown,
however, whether the alcohol was opened, and toxicology reports will be used to
determine further details.

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